Built-in arch for footwear



Feb. 17, 1931. J. T. HENDERSON BUILT-IN ARCH FOR FOOTWEAR Filed June 11, 1929 r1 lifi ndcrson Patented m. 11, 193 1,792,838

UNITED STATES JBATENTJ OFFICE Application filed June '11, 1929. Serial in. 870,056.

- This invention relates to improvements in sole removed to better illustrate the manner built-in arches for footwear. of associating the arch with the shoe,

The primary object of the invention is to Figure 3 is a plan. view of one part of the provide an arch for footwear which may be sectional arch, built into the sole structure so that the said Figure 4 is a plan view of the other part footwear will have the outward appearance of the sectional arch, and of an ordinary shoe, boot or the like. v Figure is a detail transverse sectional view A further object of the invention is to proillustrating the groove and rib bracing formavide an arch which will be slightly flexible tions embodied in the the arch sections. in the region of the ball of the foot and will In the drawing wherein for the purpose be extremely rigid at the heel portion. of illustration is shown a preferred embodi- A. still further object of the invention isto ment of this invention, the letter (A) desigprovide an arch which willextend from the nates in its entirety the upper of a shoe which ball of the foot to and over the heel so that further includes the counter (B). The shoe the latter maybe connected thereto, wherehas the usual form of insole (C) and outsole m by the heel will be held from gapping at the (D) while a heel (E) is secured to the rear back and fromtipping under or forwardly. portion of the shoe in a manner specifically Another object of the invention is to proto be described at a later point. vide an arch which may be standardized as The arch consists of two pressed metal sec- 20 to all of its parts and yet may be adjusted to 1310118 and t Section (F) bei g 5 adapt it to fit any sized shoe, boot, or oth termed the front section, while the section footwear. (R) wlll be termed the rear section. These Still another object of the invention is to two sectlees e adapted to be Pesltiened provide an arch of the type above referred tWeeI} the lneele f e the outsole (D), as to which may be manufactured at a Very best illustrated 1n F1g. 1 and they Wlll be nominal cost; one that may be applied Very ad uSted longitudinally of each other so that easily and quickly to any style footwear with the entlre arch Wlll extend from the counter (B) lengthwise of the shank portion (S) of out alterlng the latter, whereby it may be in the Shoe to terminate in the region of corporated into the shoe, or the like, either 30 during or after manufacture thereof; and one g fi i Z- that will be very efiicient in performing its i e 1 0 e neers dad Work c ear y we oses t ese ngers as ex en mg mten f h between the counter (B) and the rear end of other (tweets and advantages 0 t e the insole (C). Apertures 12 are formed at Ventlon W111 apparetlt .dunng the course the rear end portion of the section (R) and so of the followmg defscnptloni cooperate with the slot 13 0f the bifurcated In the e pe y g drewleg end 10 to receive screws, or the like, 14 by P of thle speclficatlon f 1n WIPCh hke means of which the heel (E) may be secured numerals are p y to deelgnete hke Parts to the shoe. These screws 14 extend through throughout the same, 1 the insole (C) and outsole (D) from the in- Figure 1 is a fragmentary ngi side of the shoe and enterthe heel (E) a suitsec ion l View f a ladys s oe, 01 he like, emable distance. The rear section (B) of the bodying this invention, arch is of elongated formation and gfiadually Fi ure 2' is a bottom plan view of the shoe taperin off in width from the thic est porg5 discl dsed in Fig.1 with the heel and the outtion 14 to the portion 15 which occurs in the I.

region of the shank (S) of the shoe. The remaining end portion 16 is slightly wider than the portion 15. A rib and groove formation 17 is formed longitudinally of the section (R) and functions to brace the same against bending. A plurality of apertures 18 are formed in the rib and groove formation 17 adjacent the rear end thereof while a second series of apertures 19 are formed beyond the opposite end of the rib and groove formation 17. Inwardly bent ears 20 are formed on the opposite edges of the inner end portion 16 of the rear section (R) and laterally of the series of apertures 19.

The front section (F) of the arch is flared at its front end portion 21 and is formed with apertures 22 to receive tacks or the like by means of which this end of the arch may be secured to the shoe (A). Formed in and projecting beyond the remaining end portion 23 of this section (F) is a rib and groove formation 24 which terminates in a tongue 25 bent into the shape of a hook. An aperture 26 is formed intermediate the ends of the section while opposed notches 27 are cut into the opposite edges.

Fig. 2 discloses the sections (F) and (R) as being assembled with the rib and groove formation 17 of the rear section (R) fitting within the similar formation 24 of the front section. The hook shaped tongue 25 is received in one of the apertures 18, depending upon the relative position of adjustment of the two sections with respect to each other. After this adjustment has been determined, a rivet 28 is passed through the aperture 26 of the section (F) and through the proper aperture of the series 19 in the section (B). It will be appreciated that during the sliding adjustment of the two sections, the ears 20 will prevent separation ofthe sections. The front section (F) maybe positioned within these inwardly turned ears 20 by registering the latter with the notches 27 in the section (F).

With the arch assembled as illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2, the heel (E) will be prevented from gapping at the back or from tipping under or forwardly. The ribv and grooveformations 17 and 24 will brace this rear portion of the arch and will make the same very rigid. A slight degree of flexibility will be present in the outer end portion of the front section (F). Due to the adjustability of the sections with respect to each other, the arch may be adapted to any size or style footwear. It is to be understood that the form of this invention herewith shown and described is to be taken as a preferred example of the same, and that various changes in the shape, size and arrangement of parts may be resorted to without departing from the spirit of the invention or the scopeof the subjoined claims.

Having thus described the invention, I claim:

1. In a device of the type described, the combination with a shoe,-or the like, having an insole, an outsole and a heel, of a sectional reinforcing member ositioned between the said soles and exten ing from the ball portion of the shoe to the counter, the sections of said member overlapping each other for a ort-ion of their lengths, means for connecting one end of each section to the intermediate portion of the other section, and means passing through both of the soles, the rein forcing member and into the heel for causing the said member to prevent the heel from tipping with respect to the shoe.

2. In a device of the type described, the combination with a shoe, or the like, havin an insole, an outsole and a heel, of a sectionail reinforcing member positioned between the said soles and extending from the ball portion of the shoe to the counter, the sections of said member overlap ing each other for a portion of their lengt s, means for connecting one end of each section to the intermediate portion of the other section, means for bracing the sections of said member at the shank portion of the shoe, and means passing through both of the soles, the reinforcing member and into the heel for causing the said member to prevent the heel from tipping with respect to the shoe.

3. An arch and heel reinforcing device, comprising a pair of pressed metal members, means for ad3ustably connecting said members in partial overiapping relation with respect to each other, and medially extending means for bracing said members at their overlapped portions.

4. An arch and heel reinforcing device, comprising a pair of pressed metal members, and means for adjustably connecting said members in partial overlapping relation with respect to each other, the overlapped portions of said members having interfitting rib and groove formations. located between the longitudinal edges of the members for bracing the same against bending.

5. An arch and heel reinforcing device, comprising a pair of ressed metal members, longitudinal means or reinforcing each of said members, and means for adj ustably connecting said members in partial overlapping relation with respect to each other, said adjustable connecting means including a series of apertures formed in the reinforcing means of one of said members and a tongue formed on the other member and adapted to enter any one of said apertures.

6. An arch and heel reinforcing device, comprising a pair of pressed metal members, means for slidabl connecting said members in partiall over apping relation. with respect to each other, means formed in the overlapping portions of the members for bracing the same against bending, and means formed in the bracing means for holding the members in proper relative adjusted positions.

7. An arch and heel reinforcing device, comprising a pair of pressed metal members arranged in partial longitudinal overlapping relation with respect to each other, means for longitudinally reinforcing said members, and means for adjustably connecting the iImer end of each of said members to the ad'acent intermediate portion of the other mem er.

In testimony whereof, I afiix my signature.

JESSE T. HENDERSON. 

